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Boston City FC suffered a first defeat of the National Premier Soccer League season, losing 2-1 away to Kingston Stockade, who took over first place in the Atlantic White Division.

Substitute defender Leonardo Carvalho set up a tense final nine minutes with a powerful finish to halve the Stockade’s lead, but there was to be no equalizer. Boston City (3-1-2) now trail Kingston (5-1-1) by five points at the top of the standings, but can cut that deficit to two by winning their game in hand away to TSF on Wednesday night in New Jersey.

Arguably the game’s crucial goal came with only a minute remaining in the first half. Defender Gabriel Paganini’s clumsy challenge on Michael Creswick gave referee Jared Simons no alternative but to point to the spot and Matt Koziol fired his penalty high past Anthony Ferrera.

The Lions had done enough to go into the break on level terms, but instead came out chasing the match in the second half. Just before the hour mark, Marco Kloster glided through three challenges in midfield and laid the ball off to Pedro Espindola, who curled a first-time finish beyond a stranded Ferrara.

Boston City might have gone ahead after only three minutes when Homreo Morais met a Michael Rincon cross with an acrobatic finish, but Steve Skonieczny produced a superb reflex save to push the ball away.

Kingston should have taken the lead after 37 minutes when Creswick raced clean through behind the defense, but Ferrara came superbly off his line to smother the chance and push the finish wide for corner.

Once down by two goals, Boston City coach Palhinha made four substitutions in quick succession and changed his formation, sending on Yaw Addow and tall defender-turned-striker Filipe Dutra up front to good effect. The Stockade were unsettled and after 91 minutes the change worked.

Sub Luca Tarable sent over a cross from deep on the right, which Dutra met, but Skonieczny equaled with a block. The loose ball fell to Carvalho, who rifled home a powerful finish, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a point for the Lions.